My sister in law, Erika, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy Tuesday, March 13, 2017 - by way of emergency c-section. Her and my brother's first child.

Doctors informed her that the baby was stressed, and had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. When they took the baby out, sure enough, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck - TWICE! He was revived, and brought to the NICU where Dr's tried to stabilize him.

After trying several methods to get Baby Manny to breathe properly (to no avail) the doctors scanned his chest. They quickly realized that there was nothing they could do for my poor baby nephew. He had a diaphragmatic hernia, his intestines was in his diaphragm, and one lung was collapsed.

He held on for as long as his little body could, fought the good fight, until he finally let go.

This was a small Filipino hospital, and they were not equipped to perform such a surgery on a baby. In the US, the baby would have been rushed into emergency surgery.

My brother, Manny, had to helplessly watch his little baby suffer.

Baby Manny only lived a few hours, and his mom never even got to see him alive.

My brother is a dual citizen and has been living in the Philippines while completing his bio degree. But with such a tragedy, my brother and sister in law are trying to start the process to come to the states now- to eventually try to start their family again. It's a very expensive/lengthy process. With their outstanding medical bills/funeral bills, they could use the help.

These funds will be used to cover the medical/funeral costs, Erika's visa/citizenship, flights to get to the states, and living costs until they find work here.